Gets worse without proper treatment
According to the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital of Soc Trang province, recently, the Dermatology Clinic, Examination Department has regularly received cases of children coming for examination due to impetigo. Many children are in a state of widespread impetigo, even with secondary infections, due to parents being subjective or self-treating with folk methods and remedies.
Typically, Huynh Ngoc Giau (character's name has been changed), 10 years old, in My Xuyen town (My Xuyen district, Soc Trang province) was taken to the hospital in a state of a large area on his right arm being infected.
The family said that before, blisters appeared on the child's arm, but the family mistook it for shingles, so they applied medicine and herbal medicine, leaves... which caused the ulcerated skin to spread more and more, ooze fluid, form thick scabs, and the damage became more and more severe. When they saw the severity, the family agreed to take the child to the hospital for examination and treatment.
Or the case of Nguyen My Tu (character's name has been changed), 11 years old, in Ward 4 (Soc Trang City, Soc Trang Province) was taken to the doctor because her hands and feet had pustules, yellow discharge, skin abrasions, itching and scratching, and discomfort.
Nguyen My Tu’s mother said that about a week ago, Tu’s hands often itched and had some blisters. After researching folk remedies online, her mother bathed her with tamarind and star fruit leaves, but it did not help; many blisters burst, gradually spreading to her arms and legs.
After a few days, the family went to the pharmacy to buy medicine to drink and apply, but the baby's condition did not improve, so they decided to take the baby to the hospital.
Confused with skin disease
According to BSCKI. Nguyen Thi Yen Thi - Dermatologist, Examination Department, Soc Trang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital - Impetigo is a skin infection caused by bacteria. The disease is easily spread directly from the diseased skin to healthy skin and to others when in contact with fluid oozing from skin abrasions and oozing. Impetigo can occur at any age but is more common in nursery and kindergarten age due to crowded environments, living and sharing of items.
Symptoms of the disease are the appearance of blisters on the skin, quickly turning into pus, then bursting to form erosions, forming honey-yellow crusts, quickly spreading to the surrounding skin. Common locations of impetigo are on the face, around the nasal cavity, mouth or hands and feet. The disease usually heals in 7-10 days if treated properly.
According to Dr. Thi, parents often confuse impetigo with other skin diseases and arbitrarily treat it with folk remedies or use drugs without prescription. This can cause the disease to spread quickly and become more severe.
"When you see your child has impetigo or other skin abnormalities, you should take them to a medical facility with a dermatology specialist for examination, consultation, and timely treatment to prevent the spread and possible complications," Dr. Thi recommends.
